VIHE Holy Name Retreat, Questions and Answers, and Taking the Retreat Home, November 25, Varsana, Vraja Mandala
Giriraj Swami

11.25.13_Vdvn——————
Sacinandana Swami, Giriraj Swami, and Bhurijana dasa addressed the assembled devotees on the final day of the retreat.

“Every day you spend about two hours on retreat. You chant your rounds, and you do some reading. So every day each one of us goes on retreat. In that time—the time of your spiritual practice—take something that you have learned here and apply it. For example, some devotees have told me that they have taken the simple point of focusing on the first ‘Hare’ of each mantra with them and it has changed their chanting. Others take a memory—this works for me, as I will take the memory of sitting under the kadamba trees and chanting. When I chant my rounds in Munich or Berlin, I will remember the desire tree under which I sat. So my suggestion to you is to remember something essential that you learned here and practice it. And when you practice, it will start to come automatically, as you will have developed a new samskara in your heart. You live out of the suitcases of your samskaras—your karmic baggage. We live and react and think out of this baggage. Now let us create a new samskara, which can be done by taking one essential point with you. It is possible to change. Please never ever join the fatalists who think we are helpless victims of our habits. Create a new habit and break out of your personal prison.” —Sacinandana Swami

Questions and Answers
Taking the Retreat Home

A glorious destination
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, September 2013, Cape Town, South Africa, Srimad Bhagavatam 8.20.13)

Himalaya-mountains

It is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, ‘One who does good will never be overcome by evil.’ That is a very important point because it sometimes seems that one who does good gets overcome by evil.

But it actually means is that if a person has done devotional service then it cannot be lost – it is not lost! Even when devotees die, even when devotees are killed, as we have sometimes seen, then Krsna will take are of that soul. Krsna takes care of the soul and never neglects the soul. That soul always continues on a glorious journey.

We cannot see that and therefore we sit here gloomy, have a terrible funeral and feel totally depressed. Actually, that soul continues on a glorious destination. We should never lose our faith in Krsna’s goodness and never lose our dedication.

 

 

ISKCON Joins the World in Mourning the Death of Nelson Mandela
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Released by the International Society for Krishna Consiousness (ISKCON) Ministry of Communications, Anuttama Dasa, Washington, D.C., USA, Champakalata Dasi, Durban South Africa and Nanda Kishor Das, Johannesburg, South Africa. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) joins the world in mourning and paying tribute to the foremost human rights icon of current times, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. We offer our condolences to the Mandela family and to the entire South African nation. Read more ›

ISKCON’s Journey Through Apartheid With Mandela – A Tribute to Nelson Rohihlalha Mandela (1918-2013) Father of the South African Nation
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As the world joins the South African nation in mourning the death of anti-apartheid struggle hero and South Africa’s first democratically elected State President, Nelson R. Mandela, devotees of ISKCON in South African cherish the wonderful memories of his visits to the Sri Sri Radha Radhanatha Temple and a Food For Life festival hosted by them as well as recount ISKCON’s journey through apartheid and into democracy Read more ›

ISKCON Brampton Grand Opening (Album 5 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

The Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting of ISKCON Brampton, on George Street, took place with great energy and enthusiasm recently. The ISKCON Vedic Cultural Learning Centre joins a community of over 350 centres worldwide, for the express purpose of making Vedic teachings more accessible to the people. Visitors to the open house enjoyed a free vegetarian feast, performances from local bands, a play about Vedic history and Odissi dancing. ISKCON is the International Society for Krishna Consciousness and visitors to the Brampton Centre will find a variety of class offerings including Yoga, Vegetarian cooking, dance lessons, scripture study and much more. Additionally, the Centre will be open to the public on Sundays for a vegetarian feast Read more ›

New Vrindaban’s Semi-Annual Joint Boards’ Meeting Minutes – November 9, 2013
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

 

Board members and N.V. well-wishers return from hiking trail to original Vrindaban farmhouse.

Board members and N.V. well-wishers return from hiking the trail to the original Vrindaban farmhouse.

Minutes of the Semi-Annual Meeting of the Joint Boards Of New Vrindaban

November 9, 2013

Day 2 of 3

ISKCON New Vrindaban (INV) Vision Statement: Founded in 1968, Srila Prabhupada boldly envisions New Vrindaban as a sacred place known worldwide for Cow Protection, Self-Sufficiency, Holy Pilgrimage, Spiritual Education, and, above all, Loving Krishna.

ECO-Vrindaban Mission Statement: ECOV (Earth, Cows, Opportunities & Vrindaban Villages) is dedicated to cow protection, sustainable agriculture, self-sufficiency and simple living — all centered around loving service to Sri Krishna, as envisioned by the ISKCON New Vrindaban Founder-Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

INV Board Members: Gopisa, Ranaka, Dayavira, Chaitanya Mangala, Jaya Krsna, Tamohara

ECOV Board Members: Chaitanya Mangala, Madhava Gosh, Ranaka, Navin Shyam, Anuttama, Kripamaya

GBC: Malati, Anuttama, Tamohara

Recording Secretary: Laxmi Honest

Guests: Bhima Walker, Keval Patel

The meeting began at 10:00 with a walking tour of Bahulaban, Srila Prabhupada’s Palace and Old Vrindaban.

Dayavira mentioned that he and Ranaka had toured the Valley Barn area. He was impressed with the neat appearance of the area and the silos ready for bulk grain.  Ranaka reported that they will be getting a grinder to make flour. The brick factory is in the process of being cleared and organized. It was agreed that we would add a visit to the Valley Barn to the next Community Tour in March/April 2014.

Chaitanya Mangala then introduced the guest candidates.

Bhima Walker lived in the community from 1980-1988.  He was an ashram student and has been a regular visitor since that time.  He spent 13 years full time in the military and is still a part time member of the Air National Guard.  He is studying for his PHD in electrical engineering at Dartmouth College and has done Kulimela related volunteer service projects here in NV, and in Los Angeles, Australia and New Zealand.  He is very interested in voluntarily serving as a board member in New Vrindaban where he thinks he can make a substantial contribution to the long-term progress of the community.

Keval Patel lived in the community from 1983-1996.  He was also an ashram student in the 1980’s.  He graduated from WVU in 2010 and is currently employed by JP Morgan Chase in Philadelphia.  His parents live in the community.  He feels that New Vrindaban is his home and it is important for him to give back to the community.

Both devotees are being considered as potential candidates for members of the board(s).

Chaitanya Mangala explained that qualities needed for board membership include strong personal character, deep roots in New Vrindaban and a clear history of volunteerism.  It was noted that a sense of humor is also vital.

Deconstruction of the Bahulaban barn was discussed. The plan to dismantle the building sometime in 2014 remains the same. It was reconfirmed that we will recycle or repurpose as much of the building materials as possible.

The disposition of the Bahulaban utility building still remains unanswered. It was decided to get a quote on temporary roof repairs and it was noted that ECOV had previously agreed to spend up to $5,000 on temporary repairs.

Jaya Krsna next made a presentation about an eco-village proposal for the Old Vrindaban property.  HH Bhakti Raghava Swami has suggested a model of a rural community be built there based on the principle of simple living and high thinking.  It was agreed that we do want an eco-village, and this is a good discussion, but more details are needed before making any firm decisions.

The next item was a report on Srila Prabhupada’s Palace restoration. Jaya Krsna stated that repairs to the front steps are in progress and the balance of funds from that project will be used to put a roof on the walls of the old ghee factory building. The original molds are being returned and we need a place to store them. He also reported that there are plans to hire a project manager. It was agreed that projects already funded and in progress will go on with or without a project manager.

Next there was a discussion about the future of the Garden of 7 Gates. Jaya Krsna requested that ECOV take responsibility for managing food production. It was generally agreed that ECOV will oversee the gardens and INV will purchase the produce. Jaya Krsna suggested that ECOV develop plans to discuss with INV.  It was agreed that this will go on the agenda for the next ECOV board meeting in December.

A plan was set for presentations at the Community Dialog, scheduled for the final day of the meetings. It was agreed Anuttama would lead and that department heads would review their reports of 2013 accomplishments, the settlement with Tapahpunja prabhu would be explained, Jaya Krsna would highlight the five primary instructions from Srila Prabhupada regarding New Vrindaban and Chaitanya Mangala would discuss the ECOV integrated auxiliary transformation. The Community Dialog would then be opened up for questions and discussion.

Liverpool Street
→ Ramai Swami

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Thursday night programs at the Liverpool Street preaching centre, Kings Cross, are always well attended. Usually, there is a mix of interested persons from the kirtan nights at the Lotus Room, people who have been regularly attending, and live-in ashram devotees.

The evening kicks off with the Hare Krsna maha mantra sung to different melodies, which is followed by an interactive presentation on the philosophy of Krsna Consciousness. Then there is a little more kirtana and finally a wonderful prasadam feast. At the end everyone is feeling very blissful.
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This is “faith” (śraddha)
→ The Enquirer

न ह्यतोऽन्यः शिवः पन्था विशतः संस़ताविह।
वासुदेवे भगवति भक्तियोगो यतो भवेत् ॥

na hy ato ‘nyaḥ śivaḥ panthā viśataḥ saṁsṛtāv iha
vāsudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogo yato bhavet

As you wander through this world, you will find no path more auspicious than bhakti-yoga - the path that links your heart to the All-Attractive Son of Vasudeva.

- Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 2.2.33


Remaining chaste
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 17 November 2013, Mayapur, India, Rasapurnima, Srimad Bhagavatam 10.33.19)

Question:  It is pretty clear to me, from studying Srila Prabhupada’s books, that the way we access Krsna lilas is – as sometimes Prabhupada would say in his purports – to give our lives to the mission. But, as the times goes on, it seems to be more and more appeal for people to try to go to Radha-kund to find out who they are. Could you say something on this?

There are two elements that are relevant to us in relation to rasa-lila. One is by going abroad, bringing many others to the lotus feet of Krsna and ultimately to this wonderful world that the Lord is displaying. The other is our own internal life – going deep and trying to understand Krsna’s pastimes in Kuruksetra, in Dvaraka and in Vrindavan; in all the five rasas. These two go hand-in-hand.

gopis-yamunaDedicating ourselves to the mission is not just a matter of running around at neck-breaking speed, trying to reach as many conditioned souls as possible but also we need to ourselves go deep in our dedication.

Ultimately, the depth in our dedication will come from the example of the eternal associates of Krsna, particularly in Vraja. Like that, we are not boycotting these pastimes and we are also not boycotting Radha-kund, which is undoubtedly the most sacred place in the universe, where these pastimes took place.

Unfortunately, by some arrangement of Krsna, there is a group of vaisnavas who reside at Radha-kund, who are diametrically opposed to the siddhanta of Brahma-Madhva-gaudiya vaisnava sampradaya.

There is a conflict in siddhanta and their approach to rasa-lila is basically that at a very early stage one begins to meditate on these eternal pastimes. Now, we are hearing a little bit as spectators from a distance but a higher level is when one is realized of his own eternal identity and then one can enter into these pastimes. In that approach, the desire is there to meditate and place oneself within these pastimes and thus experience exchanges with Krsna. Now, one can do so on the mental platform, just by thinking about it, “Imagine I was there, imagine I was a gopi, imagine that Krsna would pull my veil, imagine what would come next…”  I think that we are then really imagining a lot! And I think our imagination will bring us into the hot water, not to Radha-kund!

Rather, we should have the patience to wait until siddha-deha, or the eternal identity, becomes revealed, simply in the course of chanting Hare Krsna and devotional service.

In the writings of our acaryas such as Bhaktivinoda Thakur, there is a reference to siddha-pranali, a process where one is initiated by a superior vaisnava into his eternal identity. We find it in the Caitanya Caritamrita where Svarup Damodar Gosvami was given in charge of Raghunath das Gosvami by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, that he was guiding Raghunath das Gosvami in these rasas of antaranga-seva or serving according to his eternal identity.

In Jaiva dharma and in Harinama Cintamani as well, we also find descriptions by Bhaktivinod Thakur about siddha-pranali where a superior vaisnava is revealing the eternal identity to another. Sometimes devotees want to go to Radha-kund to look for siddha-pranali, look for a vaisnava who can give them some mantras which reveal their eternal identity.

prabhupada1However, in the teachings of our sampradaya there are two ways in which one can attain his siddha-deha. One is through automatic revelation and the other one is through a process of siddha-pranali, a process of conscious cultivation under guidance of a senior vaisnava.

It is mentioned that Svarup Damodar Gosvami was instructing both Raghunath das Gosvami and Gopal-guru Gosvami. But Raghunath das Gosvami  was being instructed in the process of automatic revelation and Gopal-guru Gosvami in the process of conscious cultivation. So we see that in our sampradaya, it is said that for devotees who are prema-rurukshu, approaching prema, meaning that they are situated on a very advanced platform, for them it is maybe appropriate to take on a bona-fide siddha-pranali. Then there is also a process where that is just automatically revealed, in the process of chanting and serving the holy name through the disciplic succession.

We see that particularly Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur and Srila Prabhupada are emphasizing more the automatic process – just serve, just chant Hare Krsna and everything will be revealed and that is really what we should stick with! That is where our loyalty should be. It is about chastity – we should not jump over and go shopping at the spiritual marketplace of Vrindavan. We should just remain very chaste at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada. Then we have the best – there is nothing better! Anyone who thinks that maybe somewhere else there is something better is missing the best – shelter at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada.

 

348. Devotees goal in life
→ 9 Days, 8 Nights

“The most intelligent devotees, therefore, do not take to any means of self-realization except devotional service and constant engagement in the nine different processes of devotional life, especially hearing and chanting. When hearing and chanting about Your transcendental pastimes, Your devotees do not care even for the transcendental bliss derived from liberation or from merging into the existence of the Supreme. Such devotees are not interested even in so-called liberation, and they certainly have no interest in material activities for elevation to the heavenly planets for sense gratification. Pure devotees seek only the association of paramahaṁsas, or great liberated devotees, so that they can continuously hear and chant about Your glories. For this purpose the pure devotees are prepared to sacrifice all comforts of life, even giving up the material comforts of family life and so-called society, friendship and love. Those who have tasted the nectar of devotion by relishing the transcendental vibration of chanting Your glories – Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare – do not care for any other spiritual bliss or for material comforts, which appear to the pure devotee as less important than the straw in the street”

Excerpt From: His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. “Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.


Gita Jayanti Celebrations – Thursday, December 12, 2013
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

The ancient spiritual text, the Bhagavad-Gita, which translates to "Song of God", was spoken by Krishna to Arjuna some five thousand years ago. The teachings that were imparted deal with topics like how to live a peaceful life in a chaotic world, why good things happen to bad people (and vice versa), and can help us answer questions like "whether purchasing the latest iPhone 5S will really make me happy"!

Gita Jayanti, a festival which marks the speaking of this profound knowledge, falls on Thursday, December 12th this year and is celebrated by millions around the world; people get together, read the verses of the Gita and are left feeling uplifted and fulfilled. 

How can you participate? There are a few ways:

  1. Celebrations commence on Thursday, December 12th at 6:00pm and will involve the reading of both the Sanskrit texts and English translations; feel free to bring in your personal copy of the Gita to join in or you can earn your copy especially blessed by the Deities by sitting through the entire reading that will go until around 9:00pm.
  2. On this auspicious occasion, many well-wishers sponsor copies of the Bhagavad-Gita As It Is, which is Srila Prabhupada’s translation of the original Sanskrit text, to be distributed to hotels, hospitals, shelters, and other welfare organizations. You're welcome to help us in this capacity if you can. 
  3. A tentative second reading might happen on the Sunday that follows Gita Jayanti; stay tuned for more information on that.
Also, check out this cool trailer!